Investment sought for 41 public projects next year

The government is expected to announce 41 public construction projects next year for investment by private companies, some of which may even be from China, said the Public Construction Commission (PCC) yesterday.

The PCC made the remarks yesterday during a business solicitation conference. The 41 projects carry total investment value of over NT$140 billion. Among the 41 projects, 13 can be open to Chinese investment.

Among the various projects, a strong focus was placed on the development of a block of land, designated as A25, in Xinyi District of Taipei, valued at NT$30 billion. The project will be officially announced in the first quarter of next year and has drawn the interest of Chinese operators.

As the leasing of properties is currently off-limits to Chinese capital, the PCC has recommended to the Ministry of Economic Affairs that the property leasing market be open to Chinese investors.

Among the participants at yesterday's event were representatives from two Chinese companies. They kept a low profile, however, and refused to speak to the media.

According to Chen Chen-chuan, chairman of the PCC, this year the government has signed 60 investment deals with the private sector, with total value reaching NT$76.3 billion. The figure is expected to reach NT$106 billion at the end of the year, a figure the government hopes to see increased to NT$150 billion in 2013.